Boatbuilder&#39;s clamp



May 4, 1948. L. A. HANSEN x-:TAL

BOATBUILDERS CLAMP Filed March 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 4, 1948 l.. A. HANSEN ET Al. 2,441,020

1 BOATBUILDER s- CLAMP I Filed March 28, 1945 2vSheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE Laurits A. Hansen, Philadelphia, Pa., and Karl E. Forsberg, Pitman, N. 'J.

Application March 28, 1945,V Serial No. 585,292

Our invention relates to new and useful boatbuilders clamps, especially such clamps as are employed in the construction oi' wooden boats, and has for one of its objects to provide clamps that can be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the ribs of a boat in the course of construction and thereafter operated to force the side planks into proper position for securement to said ribs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp that is, practically, automatically clamped to a boat rib as the same is operated to force a side plank into place.

Another object of the invention is to construct a clamp of the kind mentioned comprised of a body having a stationary offset jaw at one end, an offset movable jaw slidably mounted on the body, and a pressure screw at the opposite end' of said body to engage the edge of a side plank of a boat on which the clamp is temporarily mounted.

A further object of the invention is to form the body substantially of sickle shape to have the jaws practically opposite each other when the clamp is in use.

Other objects of the invention are, to provide supplemental jaws; to provide either or both of said supplemental jaws with roughened rib engaging surfaces; and to provide serrations on the inner periphery of the body to insure the retention of the movable jaw in it adjusted position.

With the above and other objects in View this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claim.

In order lthat those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same we will describe a structure in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the clamp looking at the concave edge thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clamp.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clamp showing it on a boat rib and holding a side plank in place.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the clamp viewed from the opposite side to that illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out our invention as herein embodied IB represents the body of generally sickle shape although this configuration can be varied. At Yone end of the body is a stationary jaw II,

preferably in the form of a post, projecting from 1 claim. (c1. 144-298) Y a side face at one end of said body and therefore is offset.

A movable jaw I2, also preferably inthe form of a post, projectsfrom a side'face of a yoke I3 which is slidably -mounted on the body Il) intermediate the ends thereof, so that said movable jaw isl offset, similar to the stationary jaw I I and on the same side of --the clamp body as said jawl I I.

While not absolutely necessary, the inner periphery or concave edge of the body, preferably, is rougliened or serrated at I4 with .which the Iback edge of the'yoke 'tor a singletooth I5 thereon coacts to positively prevent the movable' jaw, through its yoke, from being accidentally released as pressure is applied.

Under some conditions it is desirable to have extended dat contact surfaces on the jaws and for this purpose I provide supplemental jaws IB rotatably mounted on the stationary and movable jaws. Each supplemental jaw comprises a iiat plate I1 having a very slightly roughened or knurled Contact surface, and a sleeve I8 having a snug fit on the respective stationary and movable jaws but capable of rotation. These supplemental jaws can be placed in position or removed at will by merely slipping them on or off of the permanent stationary and movable jaws.

On the opposite or outer end of the body I0 is mounted a screw supporting post I9 for rotation and this post I9 also projects from the same side of the body as the stationary jaw. A neck portion of the post I9 projects through the body and has a head 20 formed on the far end.

A screw spindle 2| is threaded through the screw supporting post and on one end of said spindle is a handle 22 and on the other end is swiveled a foot 23 so as to assume different angular positions relative to the axis of the spindle and to remain stationary while said spindle turns.'

In practice, the clamp -is applied to a rib 24 of a boat in the course of construction, by slipping the clamp laterally over the rib so that the jaws engage opposite edges of said rib and the body I0 lies along one side of the same rib. The movable jaw is then adjusted towards the rib until said jaw is definitely in contact with said rib. The screw spindle 2I now is swung to a position which will cause the foot 23 to engage an edge of a side plank 25, which may be fastened at one end while the major portion, probably, will not be in the nal desired location. As the screw spindle is screwed forwardly the necessary pressure will be applied to the plank to force it against the rib and also towards and into the desired location. As usual, the plank has been previously steamed and since the direction of the applied pressure is in an oblique line said plank will be moved in a generally diagonal path to hold it against the rib and force it edgewise into position where it will be held until fastened in place. During this operation the screw supporting post i9 can rotate and the foot can oscillate to accommodate 'itself to the various relative positions between the screw spindle and the plank.

At the same time a counter pressure is applied to the outer overhanging end of the clamp body thus having a tendency to cant the clamp .so .that

the jaws will more rmly grip the rib.

After the plank has been fastened the screw spindle is backed oi sufliciently to relieve the pressure and the clamp then may be removed without the necessity of releasing the jaws. This overcomes the usual requirement of knockngout wedges and withdrawing fastening devices from blocks .attached to the rib.

While we have shown the clamp in a position on the rib for exerting e. .generally `upward pressure, said clamp. can :be .inverted `and applied to the opposite side of said ribnnd Va plank can be forcedi-nto position from another direction.

Of course wedo not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these .may be Lvaried Within the scope of the appended lclaim Without departing from thespirit of our invention.

Having described our vinvention what we claim as new anduseiul is:

A boatbuilders clamp comprising a generally sickle shaped body, a, stationary post projecting -from one side at one end of said body, a screw supporting post journalled in the other end of said body and projecting from the same side thereof as the stationary post, a screw spindle threaded through said supporting post, a yoke slidably mounted on the body intermediate its ends, another post projecting from a side face of the yoke in the same direction as the stationary post, and jaws removably and rotatably mounted on said posts, each jaw including a, fiat plate and a post-engaging sleeve as an integral structure.

- LAURI'rs A. HANSEN. KARL E. FoRsBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The Cfollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,492 Stouffer Sept. 19, 1876 44?,526 Plischke et al. Mar. 3, 1891 1,182,780 Limpert; May '9, 1916 1,828,042 Harding et al. Oct. 20, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 136,209 Germany Nov. 17, 1902 367,841 France Sept. 18, 1906 

